MANILA, June 10 -– More than 6,000 residents in four towns of Batangas Province were evacuated by the Batangas Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) on Thursday afternoon as the world’s smallest volcano, Taal Volcano continues to show signs of acting up.

Batangas PDCC officials held an ocular inspection and noted that the volcanic activities continue to rise.

In a related development, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said alert level 2 remains raised in Taal Volcano.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) over the phone there were reports of a rise in the temperature of the crater lake.

Strange animal activity has also been reported around the volcano since June 8.

Solidum said it was Batangas PDCC’s decision to call for a massive evacuation.

Residents of towns of Talisay, San Nicolas, Agoncillo and Laurel which immediately surround Taal Volcano have been asked to leave their homes by the Batangas PDCC even as an order for evacuation from the local government has not yet been issued.

Batangas Vice Governor Marc Leviste, acting governor and PDCC chair, also said that the towns of Balete, Mataas na Kahoy, Cuenca, Sta. Teresita, Alitagtag, Tanauan, Lipa, and Lemery should also be alerted.

PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr Armando Balilo said five units from the elite Special Operations Group headed by Lt. Cmdr. Marco Antonio Gines were dispatched along the towns of Taal and Talisay to support the PDCC.

PCG is assisting and rendering help to the families in the lake and crater area to safety following the recent abnormal activity by the smallest but deadliest volcano in the country.

“Five units were dispatched earlier by the SOG Head, (Lieutenant) Cmdr. Gines to give assistance to the PDCC in Batangas in rendering aid to the affected families in the lake area after the Taal started its volcanic activity again,” Balilo said.

The rescue teams were armed with rubber boats and consist mainly of SOG divers, ready to evacuate residents along the lake and crater area once the situation comes to worst. (PNA) LOR/JCA